Scientists have used laser technology to detect a previously unknown, massive Maya city in the dense jungle landscape of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.
Setting the scene: For many years, archaeologists believed the land was too harsh for early Maya settlements.
* However, the use of light-mapping technology, or lidar, has allowed scientists to detect shapes and structures along the jungle’s floor which indicate the presence of ancient settlements.
* This has led to the discovery of “Ocomtun,” a massive Maya city that may have acted as a political center in the region, reshaping assumptions about the Maya civilization’s geographical extent.
Lidar Technology in Action: Lidar imaging works by emitting billions of laser points from an airplane which, when analyzed, can reveal human-made structures under the dense jungle canopy.
* The process begins with analyzing aerial imagery from places like Google Earth to spot potential sites.
* The detected shapes are then mapped with lidar imaging. For Ocomtun, this process took three four-hour flights.
On-the-Ground Verification: Mapped sites must still be physically explored and verified.
* Dr. Ivan Sprajc, often referred to as “the real-life Indiana Jones,” is responsible for verifying the findings in the field, which involves challenging on-foot exploration.
* It took Sprajc’s small crew about two weeks to cover the 30 miles from the nearest road to Ocomtun, traversing old hunting and logging routes.
Discoveries at Ocomtun: The size and quantity of structures at Ocomtun indicate it was an important city.
* The site contains large architectural complexes including an ‘acropolis’ stretching about 80 meters long and rising over 25 meters tall, and other structures that suggest it was a trade or cultural center.
* The structures appear consistent with the late Classic period (600-900 C.E.), but some objects suggest an even earlier date around 1,000 B.C.E., and signs of post-classic settlers hint at Ocomtun’s endurance up to the 16th century Spanish conquest.
Considerations for Further Research: While physical excavation is a key next step, it requires significant logistical coordination and governmental approval.
* Further research is also dependent on funding as lidar flights can cost thousands of dollars.
* Understanding how the Maya endured in such harsh landscapes could provide lessons for managing modern climatic challenges, making these archaeological explorations especially relevant today.
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